Mother's Day is tomorrow and I can't think of a more fitting tribute than to talk about the legacy of faith my Mom has begun. I could't help but think about it while we we at the call service this past week. You see...if my mother had not gone to Bible Study Fellowship and daily talked about her faith with my Dad, my brother, and myself, I'm not sure our lives would have gone in the direction they have.
We had always gone to church and Sunday school for as long as I can remember, but I know that none of us really understood what it meant to commit our lives to Christ and to live out our faith until we began to see my Mom change as a result of attending an in- depth Bible study called Bible Study Fellowship. At first we kind of thought she'd gone off the deep end and become a religious fanatic. But as time went on and as God worked in our hearts, we gradually all came around. Of course, for yours truly, it took a major dramatic event in my life to get my attention. But , in the midst of that event God lead me to Campus Crusade for Christ and from there my life took a totally different direction. My brother also became involved in Navigator's while at college. He ended up a going to the seminary after finishing his undergraduate work. He's an incredible preacher and he and his wife have raised their children to know and love Christ. I went to visit him once at the seminary and met his dorm mate ....you guessed it...Bill Douthwaite.
God works in interesting ways ..doesn't he? One woman....influencing her entire family to seek the Lord..ends up with a son who becomes a pastor, a daughter who marries a pastor...and now a grandson who will soon be a pastor...as well as six other grandchildren who know the Lord and who, I have no doubt ,do, and will continue to live their lives serving God and bringing up their families to do the same.
I have no idea how my Mom ended up at the Bible study she attended. I imagine one of her friends repeatedly encouraged her to get involved in a Bible study. Thankfully..God nudged her....and she listened. The next time someone encourages you to get involved in a Bible study....I hope and pray you will listen. You just never know what legacy of faith you will begin.
Happy Mother's Day Mom. Thank you for the gift of life and faith, and for covering me, Jeff, and our families with prayer.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Call Day Memories
On Tuesday we'll fly to St. Louis for the vicarage call service. Adam and his classmates will all find out where they will be serving for the next year. For those non-lutherans..this is a sort of internship year when they will function in the pastor role...doing just about everything an ordained pastor would do. They have been able to give some preferences of where they'd like to go as far as area of the country , but they really won't know where they are going until it is announced at the service. You can feel the energy and excitement in the chapel as the seminary students and families assemble to hear their name and assignment announced.
It is really kind of strange to be reliving this from a Mom's perspective. You see....27 years ago, Bill and I were anxiously waiting to hear where we would spend the next year. My brother, also a second year sem student, was also going out on vicarage. My parents attended the service too. Now that I think about it.....they must have been quite anxious waiting to hear where their only two kids would be moving. Bill and I had some idea that we might be going to an inner city situation.....but ...hey....I was up for an adventure. How bad could it be? Ha....well.....can you say..."rats, and roaches, and slums...oh my!? That's another story for another day. As it turned out, we were assigned to inner city Baltimore, Maryland. My brother was assigned to a church in Colorado. A once close family was now going to be many miles apart. I know through the years people have said to my parents, " you must be very proud to have both of your children in the ministry?". I'm sure they are...but most people don't have any idea of the cost involved.
I get the same question in regard to Adam's choice to go into the pastoral ministry. And...I am incredibly proud of him. I'm excited for him as he moves on to fulfill God's purpose for his life...and it is SO obvious that this is what God has called him to. Wherever he ends up...I know it is God's plan and he will be blessed and be a blessing to others.Still.....the Mom in me is still praying that he will be closer than Colorado. Anyone know of any great frequent flyer mile plans ?;)
It is really kind of strange to be reliving this from a Mom's perspective. You see....27 years ago, Bill and I were anxiously waiting to hear where we would spend the next year. My brother, also a second year sem student, was also going out on vicarage. My parents attended the service too. Now that I think about it.....they must have been quite anxious waiting to hear where their only two kids would be moving. Bill and I had some idea that we might be going to an inner city situation.....but ...hey....I was up for an adventure. How bad could it be? Ha....well.....can you say..."rats, and roaches, and slums...oh my!? That's another story for another day. As it turned out, we were assigned to inner city Baltimore, Maryland. My brother was assigned to a church in Colorado. A once close family was now going to be many miles apart. I know through the years people have said to my parents, " you must be very proud to have both of your children in the ministry?". I'm sure they are...but most people don't have any idea of the cost involved.
I get the same question in regard to Adam's choice to go into the pastoral ministry. And...I am incredibly proud of him. I'm excited for him as he moves on to fulfill God's purpose for his life...and it is SO obvious that this is what God has called him to. Wherever he ends up...I know it is God's plan and he will be blessed and be a blessing to others.Still.....the Mom in me is still praying that he will be closer than Colorado. Anyone know of any great frequent flyer mile plans ?;)
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